Syria demands extradition of Assad from Russian asylum
The new Syrian authorities, led by Ahmed al-Shara, have demanded that Russia extradite Bashar al-Assad. The former leader of Syria found asylum in the Kremlin after fleeing the country.
Reuters reported on the demand for Russia to extradite Bashar al-Assad, citing a Syrian source with knowledge of the discussions in Damascus with the Russian delegation.
Meanwhile, the Syrian news agency Sana reported that Damascus wants Russia, which supported Assad during the more than decade-long civil war, to pay reparations and contribute to the reconstruction of the devastated country. However, according to the source, Moscow does not wish to acknowledge its responsibility.
Discussions with the Russian delegation, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, also focused on the restoration of relations between the two countries. The new Syrian authorities "stressed that restoring ties should take past mistakes into account, respect the Syrian people’s will and serve its interests."
Kremlin spokesman refused to comment
The Russian foreign ministry reported that a "frank discussion" on various topics took place during the meeting. It added that the parties would continue contacts to seek "appropriate agreements." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday refused to answer journalists' questions regarding the extradition of Assad and the payment of reparations.
For years, Russia supported Assad in the fight against Syrian rebels, involving its air force and special forces. Nonetheless, at the end of last year, a swift offensive by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled Assad and forced him to flee Damascus. He was evacuated to Moscow.
The loss of Assad's power threatened Russian bases in Tartus and Khmeimim, which hold strategic importance for the Kremlin. Russia is explicit about its interest in maintaining these sites.
